Induction for thermochemical processes, and associated systems and methods

ABSTRACT

Induction for thermochemical processes, and associated systems and methods. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes placing first and second substrates in a reactor, with each substrate having a surface facing toward the other. Method can further include directing a precursor gas into the reactor and activating an induction coil proximate to the facing surfaces of the substrates to dissociate the precursor gas. A constituent of the precursor gas is deposited on both the first and second surfaces, and heat radiated from each surface and/or a constituent deposited on the surface is received at the other surface and/or the constituent deposited on the other surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to pending U.S. ProvisionalApplication 61/304,403, filed Feb. 13, 2010. The present application isalso a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/857,228, filed on Aug. 16, 2010 and titled GAS HYDRATE CONVERSIONSYSTEM FOR HARVESTING HYDROCARBON HYDRATE DEPOSITS, which claimspriority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/304,403, filed Feb. 13, 2010 and titled FULL SPECTRUM ENERGY ANDRESOURCE INDEPENDENCE. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/857,228 isalso a continuation-in-part of each of the following applications: U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/707,651, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titledELECTROLYTIC CELL AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF; PCT Application No.PCT/US10/24497, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled ELECTROLYTIC CELL ANDMETHOD OF USE THEREOF; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,653,filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLINGNUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS; PCT Application No. PCT/US10/24498,filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLINGNUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS; U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/707,656, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GASCAPTURE DURING ELECTROLYSIS; and PCT Application No. PCT/US10/24499,filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLINGNUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS; each of which claims priority to and thebenefit of the following applications: U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/153,253, filed Feb. 17, 2009 and titled FULL SPECTRUMENERGY; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/237,476, filed Aug.27, 2009 and titled ELECTROLYZER AND ENERGY INDEPENDENCE TECHNOLOGIES;U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/304,403, filed Feb. 13, 2010 andtitled FULL SPECTRUM ENERGY AND RESOURCE INDEPENDENCE. Each of theseapplications is incorporated by reference in its entirety. To the extentthe foregoing application and/or any other materials incorporated hereinby reference conflict with the disclosure presented herein, thedisclosure herein controls.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present technology is directed generally to induction forthermochemical processes, and associated systems and methods. Inparticular embodiments, induction techniques can be used to dissociate ahydrocarbon into hydrogen and carbon, with the carbon deposited on asubstrate to form a useful durable good, and with the hydrogen removedfor use as a fuel.

BACKGROUND

Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, wave, falling water, andbiomass-based sources have tremendous potential as significant energysources, but currently suffer from a variety of problems that prohibitwidespread adoption. For example, using renewable energy sources in theproduction of electricity is dependent on the availability of thesources, which can be intermittent. Solar energy is limited by the sun'savailability (i.e., daytime only), wind energy is limited by thevariability of wind, falling water energy is limited by droughts, andbiomass energy is limited by seasonal variances, among other things. Asa result of these and other factors, much of the energy from renewablesources, captured or not captured, tends to be wasted.

The foregoing inefficiencies associated with capturing and saving energylimit the growth of renewable energy sources into viable energyproviders for many regions of the world, because they often lead to highcosts of producing energy. Thus, the world continues to rely on oil andother fossil fuels as major energy sources because, at least in part,government subsidies and other programs supporting technologydevelopments associated with fossil fuels make it deceptively convenientand seemingly inexpensive to use such fuels. At the same time, thereplacement cost for the expended resources, and the costs ofenvironment degradation, health impacts, other by-products of fossilfuel use are not included in the purchase price of the energy resultingfrom these fuels.

In light of the foregoing and other drawbacks currently associated withsustainably producing renewable resources, there remains a need forimproving the efficiencies and commercial viabilities of producingproducts and fuels with such resources.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially schematic illustration of a system having areactor with facing substrates for operation in a batch mode inaccordance with an embodiment of the presently disclosed technology.

FIG. 2 is a partially schematic illustration of a system having areactor with facing substrates configured to operate in a continuousmanner, in accordance with another embodiment of the presently disclosedtechnology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 1. Overview

Several examples of devices, systems and methods for inductivelyprocessing constituents in a chemical reactor are described below. Suchprocesses and associated reactors can be used to produce hydrogen fuelsand/or other useful end products. Accordingly, the reactors can produceclean-burning fuel and can re-purpose carbon and/or other constituentsfor use in durable goods, including polymers and carbon composites.Although the following description provides many specific details of thefollowing examples in a manner sufficient to enable a person skilled inthe relevant art to practice, make and use them, several of the detailsand advantages described below may not be necessary to practice certainexamples of the technology. Additionally, the technology may includeother examples that are within the scope of the claims but are notdescribed here in detail.

References throughout this specification to “one example,” “an example,”“one embodiment” or “an embodiment” mean that a particular feature,structure, process or characteristic described in connection with theexample is included in at least one example of the present technology.Thus, the occurrences of the phrases “in one example,” “in an example,”“one embodiment” or “an embodiment” in various places throughout thisspecification are not necessarily all referring to the same example.Furthermore, the particular features, structures, routines, steps orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreexamples of the technology. The headings provided herein are forconvenience only and are not intended to limit or interpret the scope ormeaning of the claimed technology.

Certain embodiments of the technology described below may take the formof computer-executable instructions, including routines executed by aprogrammable computer or controller. Those skilled in the relevant artwill appreciate that the technology can be practiced on computer orcontroller systems other than those shown and described below. Thetechnology can be embodied in a special-purpose computer, controller, ordata processor that is specifically programmed, configured orconstructed to perform one or more of the computer-executableinstructions described below. Accordingly, the terms “computer” and“controller” as generally used herein refer to any data processor andcan include internet appliances, hand-held devices, multi-processorsystems, programmable consumer electronics, network computers,mini-computers, and the like. The technology can also be practiced indistributed environments where tasks or modules are performed by remoteprocessing devices that are linked through a communications network.Aspects of the technology described below may be stored or distributedon computer-readable media, including magnetic or optically readable orremovable computer discs as well as media distributed electronicallyover networks. In particular embodiments, data structures andtransmissions of data particular to aspects of the technology are alsoencompassed within the scope of the present technology. The presenttechnology encompasses both methods of programming computer-readablemedia to perform particular steps, as well as executing the steps.

A method for forming a material in accordance with a particularembodiment includes placing a first substrate in a reactor, with thefirst substrate having an exposed first surface. The method can furtherinclude placing a second substrate in the reactor, with the secondsubstrate having an exposed second surface facing toward the firstsurface. A precursor gas is directed into the reactor, and isdissociated by activating an induction coil. The method further includesdepositing a constituent of the precursor gas on both the first andsecond surfaces. The method can still further include receiving heatradiated from the first surface and/or the constituent deposited on thefirst surface at the second surface and/or the constituent deposited onthe second surface. Heat radiated from the second surface and/or theconstituent deposited on the second surface is received at the firstsurface and/or the constituent deposited on the first surface. Thisarrangement can conserve the energy required to carry out the process byreceiving energy radiated from a first product as the first product isbeing formed, at a second product as the second product is being formed.

A reactor in accordance with a particular embodiment of the technologyincludes a reactor vessel having a reaction zone, an induction coilpositioned around the reaction zone, and a reactant supply coupled influid communication with the reaction zone. The reactor further includesa first substrate support positioned proximate to the reaction zone tosupport a first substrate, and a second substrate support positionedproximate to the reaction zone to support a second substrate, in anorientation facing toward the first substrate support. Accordingly, thereactor can facilitate a deposition process in which radiation emittedby a product carried by one support is received by the product carriedby the other support.

2. Representative Reactors and Associated Methodologies

FIG. 1 is a partially schematic, partial cross-sectional illustration ofa system 100 having a reactor 110 configured in accordance with anembodiment of the presently disclosed technology. In one aspect of thisembodiment, the reactor 110 includes a reactor vessel 111 having areaction or induction zone 123 which is heated by an induction coil 120.The induction coil 120 can be a liquid-cooled, high frequencyalternating current coil coupled to a suitable electrical power source121. The reactor vessel 111 can further include an entrance port 112coupled to a precursor gas source 101 to receive a suitable precursorgas, and an exit port 113 positioned to remove spent gas and/or otherconstituents from the vessel 111. In a particular embodiment, theprecursor gas source 101 carries a hydrocarbon gas (e.g., methane),which is dissociated into carbon and hydrogen at the induction zone 123.The carbon is then deposited on a substrate to form a product, as isdescribed further below, and the hydrogen and/or other constituents areremoved for further processing, as is also described further below.

The reaction vessel 111 houses a first support 114 a having a firstsupport surface 115 a, and a second support 114 b having a secondsupport surface 115 b facing toward the first support surface 115 a.Each support 114 a, 114 b can carry a substrate upon which one or moreconstituents of the precursor gas are deposited. For example, the firstsupport 114 a can carry a first substrate 130 a and the second support114 b can carry a second substrate 130 b. In a representative embodimentin which the precursor gas is selected to deposit carbon, the first andsecond substances 130 a, 130 b can also include carbon, e.g., in theform of graphite or a constituent of steel. When the precursor gasincludes a different deposition element (e.g., nitrogen and/or boron),the composition of the first and second substrates 130 a, 130 b can bedifferent. Each of the substrates 130 a, 130 b can have an initiallyexposed surface facing the other. Accordingly, the first substrate 130 acan have an exposed first surface 131 a facing toward a second exposedsurface 131 b of the second substrate 130 b. The remaining surfaces ofeach substrate 130 a, 130 b can be insulated to prevent or significantlyrestrict radiation losses from these surfaces. The supports 114 a, 114 bcan insulate at least one surface of each of the substrates 130 a, 130b. The other surfaces (other than the exposed first and secondsubstrates 131 a, 131 b) can be protected by a corresponding insulator132. The insulator 132 can be formed from a suitable high temperatureceramic or other material.

The system 100 can further include a controller 190 that receives inputsignals 191 from any of a variety of sensors, transducers, and/or otherelements of the system 100, and in response to information received fromthese elements, delivers control signals 192 to adjust operationalparameters of the system 100. These parameters can include the pressuresand flow rates with which the gaseous constituents are provided toand/or removed from the reactor vessel 111, the operation of theinduction coil 120 and associated power source 121, and the operation ofa separator 103 (described below), among others.

In operation, the precursor gas source 101 supplies gas to the inductionzone 123, the induction coil 120 is activated, and the precursor gasdissociates into at least one constituent (e.g., carbon) that isdeposited onto the first and second substrates 130 a, 130 b. Theconstituent can be deposited in an epitaxial process that preserves thecrystal grain orientation of the corresponding substrate 130 a, 130 b.Accordingly, the deposited constituent can also have a crystal and/orother self-organized structure. As the constituent is deposited, itforms a first formed structure or product 140 a at the first substrate130 a, and a second formed structure or product 140 b at the secondsubstrate 130 b. The first and second formed structures 140 a, 140 beach have a corresponding exposed surface 141 a, 141 b facing toward theother. The structures 140 a, 140 b can have the same or differentcross-sectional shapes and/or areas, and/or can have non-crystalline,single crystal or multicrystal organizations, depending upon theselected embodiment. Radiation emitted by the first exposed surface 131a of the first substrate 130 a, and/or by the first exposed surface 141a of the first formed structure 140 a (collectively identified by arrowR1) is received at the second exposed surface 141 b of the second formedstructure 140 b, and/or the second exposed surface 131 b of the secondsubstrate 130 b. Similarly, radiation emitted by the second exposedsurface 141 b of the second formed structure 140 b and/or the secondexposed surface 131 b of the second substrate 130 b (collectivelyidentified by arrow R2) is received at the first formed structure 140 aand/or the first substrate 130 a.

As the formed structures 140 a, 140 b grow, the exit port 113 providesan opening through which residual constituents from the dissociatedprecursor gas and/or non-dissociated quantities of the precursor gas canpass. These constituents are directed to a collection system 102, whichcan include a separator 103 configured to separate the constituents intotwo or more flow streams. For example, the separator 103 can direct onestream of constituents to a first product collector 104 a, and a secondstream of constituents to a second product collector 104 b. In aparticular embodiment, the first product collector 104 a can collectpure or substantially pure hydrogen, which can be delivered to ahydrogen-based fuel cell 105 or other device that requires hydrogen at arelatively high level of purity. The second stream of constituentsdirected to the second product collector 104 b can include hydrogenmixed with other elements or compounds. Such elements or compounds caninclude methane or another undissociated precursor gas, and/or carbon(or another element or compound targeted for deposition) that was notdeposited on the first substrate 130 a or the second substrate 130 b.These constituents can be directed to an engine 106, for example, aturbine engine or another type of internal combustion engine that canburn a mixture of hydrogen and the other constituents. The engine 106and/or the fuel cell 105 can provide power for any number of devices,including the electrical power source 121 for the inductive coil 120. Inanother aspect of this embodiment, at least some of the constituents(e.g., undissociated precursor gas) received at the second collector 104b can be directed back into the reactor 110 via the entrance port 112.

An advantage of the foregoing arrangement is that the radiation lossestypically encountered in a chemical vapor deposition apparatus can beavoided by positioning multiple substrates in a manner that allowsradiation emitted from one surface to be received by another surfacethat is also targeted for deposition. In a particular embodiment shownin FIG. 1, two substrates are shown, each having a single exposedsurface facing the other. In other embodiments, additional substratescan be positioned (e.g., in a plane extending inwardly and/or outwardlytransverse to the plane of FIG. 1) to allow additional exposed surfacesof a formed product to radiate heat to corresponding surfaces of otherformed products.

Another advantage of the foregoing arrangement is that it can be used toproduce a structural building block and/or an architectural construct,as well as clean burning hydrogen fuel from a hydrogen donor. When theprecursor gas includes a hydrocarbon, the architectural construct caninclude graphene and/or another carbon-bearing material, for example, amaterial that can be further processed to form a carbon-based compositeor a carbon-based polymer. In other embodiments, the precursor gas caninclude other elements (e.g., boron, nitrogen, sulfur, silicon, and/or atransition metal) than can also be used to form structural buildingblocks that contain the element, and/or architectural constructs formedfrom the building blocks. Suitable processes and representativearchitectural constructs are further described in the followingco-pending U.S. patent applications, all of which are filed concurrentlyherewith and are incorporated herein by reference: application Ser. No.______ titled “CHEMICAL PROCESSES AND REACTORS FOR EFFICIENTLY PRODUCINGHYDROGEN FUELS AND STRUCTURAL MATERIALS, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS” (Attorney Docket No. 69545.8601US); application Ser. No. ______titled “ARCHITECTURAL CONSTRUCT HAVING FOR EXAMPLE A PLURALITY OFARCHITECTURAL CRYSTALS” (Attorney Docket No. 69545.8701 US); andapplication Ser. No. ______ titled “CARBON-BASED DURABLE GOODS ANDRENEWABLE FUEL FROM BIOMASS WASTE DISSOCIATION” (Attorney Docket No.69545.9002US).

One feature of an embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 1 isthat it may be conducted in a batch process. For example, each of thefirst and second formed structures 140 a, 140 b can be grown by aparticular amount and then removed from the reaction vessel 111. Inanother embodiment described below with reference to FIG. 2, theproducts can be formed in a continuous manner, without the need forhalting the reaction to remove the product.

FIG. 2 illustrates a system 200 that includes a reactor 210 having areactor vessel 211 configured to operate in a continuous flow manner inaccordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technology. In oneaspect of this embodiment, the reactor 210 has a first substrate support214 a that carries a first substrate 230 a (e.g., a cylindricalsubstrate), and a second substrate support 214 b that carries a secondsubstrate 230 b. Each substrate 230 a, 230 b has a corresponding(initially) exposed surface 231 a, 231 b facing toward the other. Theexposed surfaces 231 a, 231 b are positioned in an induction zone 223that is heated by a corresponding induction coil 220, sections of whichare visible in FIG. 2. The heat provided by the induction coil 220 canin some cases be supplemented by an additional heat source 222, e.g. acombustor. As the dissociated constituent (e.g., carbon) is deposited onthe exposed surfaces 231 a, 231 b of the substrates 230 a, 230 b, itforms corresponding products 240 a, 240 b, each with a correspondingexposed surface 241 a, 241 b which can extend to the outer periphery ofthe corresponding substrate 230 a, 230 b. The substrates 230 a, 230 bare withdrawn from the induction zone 223 in opposite directions, asindicated by arrows A1 and A2. This allows additional product to beformed on the newly formed, exposed surfaces 241 a, 241 b of the product240 a, 240 b carried by the substrates 230 a, 230 b at the inductionzone 223. To facilitate this operation, the reactor 210 can includecorresponding seals 280 a, 280 b, each positioned around a correspondingone of the substrates 230 a, 230 b. The seals 280 a, 280 b allow thesubstrates 230 a, 230 b and the corresponding product 240 a, 240 bcarried by the substrates to be withdrawn from the reactor vessel 211without a significant loss of the gases present in the reactor vessel211. In a representative embodiment, the seals 280 a, 280 b can includehigh temperature labyrinth seals, and in other embodiments, can includeother configurations.

The system 200 can also include features for re-using heat generatedwithin the reactor 210. For example, the system 200 can include one ormore heat exchangers 250 (three are shown in FIG. 2 as a first heatexchanger 250 a, a second heat exchanger 250 b, and a third heatexchanger 250 c) that capture heat from the products and constituentsremoved from the reactor vessel 211 and return the heat to the precursorgas entering the reaction vessel 211. This arrangement reduces theamount of power required by the induction coil 220 to heat the inductionzone 223. In a particular embodiment, the first and second heatexchangers 250 a, 250 b are each positioned in close thermalcommunication with a corresponding one of the substrates 230 a, 230 band the product 240 a, 240 b formed at the ends of these substrates.Each of the first and second heat exchangers 250 a, 250 b can includecorresponding heat exchanger coils 251 (sections of which are visible inFIG. 2) that carry a heat exchanger fluid. The heat exchanger fluid isrouted around a fluid path 252 by one or more pumps 255. In a particularembodiment, the heat exchanger fluid can include water/steam, and inother embodiments can include other suitable heat transfer media. Theheat exchanger fluid passes through the coils 251 at each of the firstand second heat exchangers 250 a, 250 b where it is heated by thesubstrate 230 a, 230 b and associated product 240 a, 240 b, and providesthis heat to the third heat exchanger 250 c. At the third exchanger 250c, the heat provided by the heat exchanger fluid proceeding around thefluid path 252 is transferred to the precursor gas as the gas proceedsalong a precursor gas flow path 253 from a precursor gas source 201 toan entrance port 212 of the vessel 211. Such arrangements regenerativelyheat the precursor gas to a temperature approaching the dissociationtemperature. The additional heat for dissociation is then provided byinductive heating in the vessel 211.

As discussed above, the dissociation and deposition processes canproduce gaseous products, residual and unused reactants and otherconstituents. These heated constituents exit the reactor vessel 211 viaan exit port 213 and are routed along a product flow path 254 throughthe third heat exchanger 250 c. At the third heat exchanger 250 c, theproduct flow path 254 is positioned in close thermal communication withthe precursor flow path 253 to transfer heat to the precursor gasentering the reaction vessel 211.

After exiting the third heat exchanger 250 c, the products removed fromthe reactor vessel 211 enter a collection system 202, which can includea separator 203. The separator 203 can separate the product gases, forexample, into a first product delivered to a first product collector 204a, and a second product delivered to a second product collector 204 b.In a particular example, when the precursor gas includes methane, thefirst product collector 204 a can collect pure hydrogen, and the secondproduct collector 204 b can collect a mixture of hydrogen,un-dissociated methane and/or undeposited carbon. The pure hydrogen canbe used by power generators that require a particular level of hydrogenpurity, for example, a fuel cell, as discussed above. The second product(e.g., a mixture of hydrogen and methane) can be delivered to otherpower generators that do not require the same level of purity. Suchgenerators can include turbine engines and/or internal combustionengines, as was also discussed above. In a particular embodiment, atleast some of the methane-containing product is routed via a valve 207back to the precursor gas source 201 for dissociation at the reactor210.

One feature of several of the foregoing embodiments is that they includearrangements that conserve energy and/or recycled constituents. Forexample, as discussed above, the facing surfaces of the supports and thedeposited product carried by the supports reduces the overall radiativethermal losses in the system. The heat exchangers can, in addition to orin lieu of the foregoing feature, return heat generated by the productformation process to incoming reactants, again reducing the overallamount of energy consumed by the system. Products other than the durablegoods or element used to form durable goods at the reactor can be reusedfor other purposes, e.g., power generation purposes.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments ofthe technology have been described herein for purposes of illustration,but that various modifications may be made without deviating from thetechnology. For example, the precursor gas delivered to the reactor caninclude hydrocarbon compounds other than methane in other embodiments.Such compounds can include a variety of hydrocarbon fuels and/oralcohols. In still further embodiments, the precursor can includecarbon-containing donors that do not include hydrogen, and in stillfurther embodiments, the precursor gas can include a donor other thancarbon. In such instances, the precursor gas can include a nitrogenousor other compound to form a durable good or durable good constituentbased on an element other than carbon.

Certain aspects of the technology described in the context of particularembodiments may be combined or eliminated in other embodiments. Forexample, the heat exchangers described in the context above a continuousflow embodiment shown in FIG. 2 may also be applied to the batch flowprocess described above with reference to FIG. 1. Further, whileadvantages associated with certain embodiments of the technology havebeen described in the context of those embodiments, other embodimentsmay also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments neednecessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of thepresent disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure and associatedtechnology can encompass other embodiments not expressly shown ordescribed herein.

To the extent not previously incorporated herein by reference, thepresent application incorporates by reference in their entirety thesubject matter of each of the following materials: U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/857,553, filed on Aug. 16, 2010 and titledSUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INTEGRATED PRODUCTION OFRENEWABLE ENERGY, MATERIALS RESOURCES, AND NUTRIENT REGIMES; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/857,553, filed on Aug. 16, 2010 and titledSYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGHINTEGRATED FULL SPECTRUM PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/857,554, filed on Aug. 16, 2010 and titledSYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGHINTEGRATED FULL SPECTRUM PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE MATERIAL RESOURCESUSING SOLAR THERMAL; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/857,502, filedon Aug. 16, 2010 and titled ENERGY SYSTEM FOR DWELLING SUPPORT; AttorneyDocket No. 69545-8505.US00, filed on Feb. 14, 2011 and titled DELIVERYSYSTEMS WITH IN-LINE SELECTIVE EXTRACTION DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED METHODSOF OPERATION; U.S. Patent Application No. 61/401,699, filed on Aug. 16,2010 and titled COMPREHENSIVE COST MODELING OF AUTOGENOUS SYSTEMS ANDPROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ENERGY, MATERIAL RESOURCES AND NUTRIENTREGIMES; Attorney Docket No. 69545-8601.US00, filed on Feb. 14, 2011 andtitled CHEMICAL PROCESSES AND REACTORS FOR EFFICIENTLY PRODUCINGHYDROGEN FUELS AND STRUCTURAL MATERIALS, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS; Attorney Docket No. 69545-8602.US00, filed on Feb. 14, 2011 andtitled REACTOR VESSELS WITH TRANSMISSIVE SURFACES FOR PRODUCINGHYDROGEN-BASED FUELS AND STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS; Attorney Docket No. 69545-8603.US00, filed on Feb. 14, 2011 andtitled CHEMICAL REACTORS WITH RE-RADIATING SURFACES AND ASSOCIATEDSYSTEMS AND METHODS; Attorney Docket No. 69545-8604.US00, filed on Feb.14, 2011 and titled THERMAL TRANSFER DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS; Attorney Docket No. 69545-8605.US00, filed on Feb. 14, 2011 andtitled CHEMICAL REACTORS WITH ANNULARLY POSITIONED DELIVERY AND REMOVALDEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS; Attorney Docket No.69545-8606.US00, filed on Feb. 14, 2011 and titled REACTORS FORCONDUCTING THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES WITH SOLAR HEAT INPUT, ANDASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS; Attorney Docket No. 69545-8611.US00,filed on Feb. 14, 2011 and titled COUPLED THERMOCHEMICAL REACTORS ANDENGINES, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS; U.S. Patent Application No.61/385,508, filed on Sep. 22, 2010 and titled REDUCING AND HARVESTINGDRAG ENERGY ON MOBILE ENGINES USING THERMAL CHEMICAL REGENERATION;Attorney Docket No. 69545-8616.US00, filed on Feb. 14, 2011 and titledREACTOR VESSELS WITH PRESSURE AND HEAT TRANSFER FEATURES FOR PRODUCINGHYDROGEN-BASED FUELS AND STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS; Attorney Docket No. 69545-8701.US00, filed on Feb. 14, 2011 andtitled ARCHITECTURAL CONSTRUCT HAVING FOR EXAMPLE A PLURALITY OFARCHITECTURAL CRYSTALS; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/806,634,filed on Aug. 16, 2010 and titled METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR DETECTIONOF PROPERTIES OF FLUID CONVEYANCE SYSTEMS; Attorney Docket No.69545-8801.US01, filed on Feb. 14, 2011 and titled METHODS, DEVICES, ANDSYSTEMS FOR DETECTING PROPERTIES OF TARGET SAMPLES; Attorney Docket No.69545-9002.US00, filed on Feb. 14, 2011 and titled SYSTEM FOR PROCESSINGBIOMASS INTO HYDROCARBONS, ALCOHOL VAPORS, HYDROGEN, CARBON, ETC.;Attorney Docket No. 69545-9004.US00, filed on Feb. 14, 2011 and titledCARBON RECYCLING AND REINVESTMENT USING THERMOCHEMICAL REGENERATION;Attorney Docket No. 69545-9006.US00, filed on Feb. 14, 2011 and titledOXYGENATED FUEL; U.S. Patent Application No. 61/237,419, filed on Aug.27, 2009 and titled CARBON SEQUESTRATION; U.S. Patent Application No.61/237,425, filed on Aug. 27, 2009 and titled OXYGENATED FUELPRODUCTION; Attorney Docket No. 69545-9102.US00, filed on Feb. 14, 2011and titled MULTI-PURPOSE RENEWABLE FUEL FOR ISOLATING CONTAMINANTS ANDSTORING ENERGY; U.S. Patent Application No. 61/421,189, filed on Dec. 8,2010 and titled LIQUID FUELS FROM HYDROGEN, OXIDES OF CARBON, AND/ORNITROGEN; AND PRODUCTION OF CARBON FOR MANUFACTURING DURABLE GOODS; andAttorney Docket No. 69545-9105.US00, filed on Feb. 14, 2011 and titledENGINEERED FUEL STORAGE, RESPECIATION AND TRANSPORT.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A reactor system for forming a material,comprising: a reactor vessel having a reaction zone; an induction coilpositioned around the reaction zone; a reactant supply coupled in fluidcommunication with the reaction zone; a first substrate supportpositioned at the reaction zone to support a first substrate having afirst surface; a second substrate support positioned at the reactionzone to support a second substrate having a second surface facing towardthe first surface of the first substrate; a first insulator positionedat least proximate to the first substrate support, with at least one ofthe first substrate support and the first insulator positioned toinsulate otherwise exposed surfaces of the first substrate, other thanthe first surface; and a second insulator positioned at least proximateto the second substrate support, with at least one of the secondsubstrate support and the second insulator positioned to insulateotherwise exposed surfaces of the second substrate, other than thesecond surface.
 22. The system of claim 21, further comprising: a firstseal positioned to allow the first support to be withdrawn from thereaction zone while the induction coil is active and the reactant supplyis delivering reactant to the reaction zone; and a second sealpositioned to allow the second support to be withdrawn from the reactionzone while the induction coil is active and the reactant supply isdelivering reactant to the reaction zone.
 23. The system of claim 22wherein at least one of the first and second seals includes a labyrinthseal.
 24. The system of claim 22, further comprising: a first heatexchanger positioned proximate to the vessel to receive the firstsupport as the first support is withdrawn from the reaction zone; asecond heat exchanger positioned proximate to the vessel to receive thesecond support as the second support is withdrawn from the reactionzone; a third heat exchanger positioned between the reactant supply andthe reaction zone; and a heat exchanger fluid path coupled among thefirst, second and third heat exchangers to transfer heat received at thefirst and second heat exchangers to a reactant at the third heatexchanger.
 25. The system of claim 24 wherein the reactor vesselincludes an exit port positioned to receive gaseous constituents fromwithin the vessel, and wherein the system further comprises: a productflow path coupled between the exit port and the third heat exchanger totransfer heat from the gaseous constituents to the reactant at the thirdheat exchanger.
 26. The system of claim 21 wherein the reactor vesselincludes an exit port positioned to receive gaseous constituents fromwithin the vessel, and wherein the system further comprises: a separatorcoupled to the exit port and positioned to separate hydrogen from otherconstituents passing through the exit port.
 27. The system of claim 21wherein the reactor vessel includes an exit port positioned to receivegaseous constituents from within the vessel, and wherein the systemfurther comprises: a separator coupled to the exit port and positionedto separate hydrogen having a first level of purity from hydrogen havinga second level of purity less than the first.
 28. The system of claim21, further comprising the first and second substrates.
 29. The systemof claim 28 wherein at least one of the first and second substratesincludes carbon.
 30. The system of claim 28, further comprising areactant carried by the reactant supply, and wherein the reactant and atleast one of the first and second substrates have a common constituent.31. The system of claim 21, further comprising a controller coupled tothe reactor vessel.
 32. The system of claim 21 wherein the first andsecond substrate supports are movable toward and away from each other.33. The system of claim 32 wherein the first and second substratesupports move as a function of an amount of material applied to thefirst and second substrates in the reaction zone.
 34. A reactor systemfor forming a material, comprising: a reactor vessel having a reactionzone; an induction coil positioned around the reaction zone; a reactantsupply coupled in fluid communication with the reaction zone; a firstsubstrate support positioned at the reaction zone to support a firstsubstrate having a first surface; and a second substrate supportpositioned at the reaction zone to support a second substrate having asecond surface facing toward the first surface of the first substrate,wherein at least one of the first and second substrate supports ismovable away from the other to withdraw a corresponding one of the firstand second substrates away from the other.
 35. The system of claim 34,further comprising: a first insulator positioned at least proximate tothe first substrate support, with at least one of the first substratesupport and the first insulator positioned to insulate otherwise exposedsurfaces of the first substrate, other than the first surface; and asecond insulator positioned at least proximate to the second substratesupport, with at least one of the second substrate support and thesecond insulator positioned to insulate otherwise exposed surfaces ofthe second substrate, other than the second surface.
 36. The system ofclaim 34 wherein the at least one of the first and second substratesupports is movable away from the other as a function of the amount ofmaterial applied to the first and second substrates in the reactionzone.
 37. The system of claim 34, further comprising the first andsecond substrates.
 38. The system of claim 37 wherein at least one ofthe first and second substrates includes carbon.
 39. The system of claim37, further comprising a reactant carried by the reactant supply, andwherein the reactant and at least one of the first and second substrateshave a common constituent.
 40. The system of claim 34, furthercomprising a controller coupled to the reactor vessel.
 41. The system ofclaim 34, further comprising: a first seal positioned to allow the firstsupport to be withdrawn from the reaction zone while the induction coilis active and the reactant supply is delivering reactant to the reactionzone; and a second seal positioned to allow the second support to bewithdrawn from the reaction zone while the induction coil is active andthe reactant supply is delivering reactant to the reaction zone.
 42. Thesystem of claim 41 wherein at least one of the first and second sealsincludes a labyrinth seal.
 43. The system of claim 34, furthercomprising: a first heat exchanger positioned proximate to the vessel toreceive the first support as the first support is withdrawn from thereaction zone; a second heat exchanger positioned proximate to thevessel to receive the second support as the second support is withdrawnfrom the reaction zone; a third heat exchanger positioned between thereactant supply and the reaction zone; and a heat exchanger fluid pathcoupled among the first, second and third heat exchangers to transferheat received at the first and second heat exchangers to a reactant atthe third heat exchanger.
 44. The system of claim 43 wherein the reactorvessel includes an exit port positioned to receive gaseous constituentsfrom within the vessel, and wherein the system further comprises: aproduct flow path coupled between the exit port and the third heatexchanger to transfer heat from the gaseous constituents to the reactantat the third heat exchanger.
 45. The system of claim 34 wherein thereactor vessel includes an exit port positioned to receive gaseousconstituents from within the vessel, and wherein the system furthercomprises: a separator coupled to the exit port and positioned toseparate hydrogen from other constituents passing through the exit port.46. The system of claim 34 wherein the reactor vessel includes an exitport positioned to receive gaseous constituents from within the vessel,and wherein the system further comprises: a separator coupled to theexit port and positioned to separate hydrogen having a first level ofpurity from hydrogen having a second level of purity less than thefirst.